Captain Morgan opens up MLS market with as league’s first spirits sponsor
July 10 – Major League Soccer has signed its first spirit sponsor with Captain Morgan becoming the league’s official spiced rum and exclusive spirits partner.
Edu returns to Arsenal as technical boss, Juninho takes over in Brazil
July 10 – Edu Gaspar has returned to Arsenal to become the club’s new technical director. The Brazilian held a similar role with the Selecao, which won a ninth Copa America last Sunday on home soil.
Moroccan FA boss Lekjaa accused of assaulting Ethiopian ref Tessema. CAF to make ‘watershed’ ruling
By Osasu Obayiuwana in Cairo, Egypt
July 9 – Fouzi Lekjaa, 3rd Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is at grave risk of being fined and banned by the organisation of which he is a high-ranking member, when CAF’s Disciplinary Committee sits in Cairo on Tuesday, to hear a complaint the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) have filed against the Moroccan.
Zelkifli Ngoufonja calls on Africa to reject FIFA takeover and elect their own leaders
By Paul Nicholson
July 9 – Zelkifli Ngoufonja, who stood as a candidate for an African FIFA Council position in 2017, has written to CAF member association presidents on the eve of their Congress in Cairo this week urging them to do “the right thing” and not cede control of CAF and African football to FIFA.
PSG says stay-away Neymar can leave if the price is right
July 9 – French champions Paris St-Germain have said they will take “appropriate action” after Brazil striker Neymar failed to turn up for the first day of pre-season training. The 27-year-old was due back at the club’s training ground on Monday, but remained in Brazil for a charity event.
I-League clubs write to Indian PM calling for probe into AIFF
July 9 – The crisis in Indian football has reached the office of prime minister Narendra Modi. The I-League clubs have written to India’s head of state demanding a commission probe the functioning of the All India Football Federation Federation (AIFF).
Euro fan group joins English fan clubs to lobby UEFA with 7-point ticketing proposal
July 9 – Fan groups from the four English clubs that contested UEFA’s two club finals have been backed by Europe’s largest supporters group in their efforts to persuade UEFA to be more fan-friendly in future when choosing where to play their showpiece events.
As Saudis and Arabsat refuse to act, beoutQ keeps up its thieving of 2019 AFCON
July 9 – Saudi-based broadcaster beoutQ has continued its theft of live broadcast rights, tacitly backed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and more overtly backed by Arabsat. It has stolen all 36 group matches of CAF’s Total Africa Cup of Nations.
‘Toxic’ CAF in danger of alienating sponsors unless it cleans up, says agency source
By Osasu Obayiuwana in Cairo, Egypt
July 9 – As the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is engulfed by governance problems that could, unbelievably, lead to FIFA’s direct intervention in its day-to-day affairs, its poor image could have an immediate and long-term impact on its financial future, as sponsors are increasingly uncomfortable with the negative publicity surrounding the body.
Man City vs Man Utd derby to open WSL season at Etihad
July 9 – Manchester City will play their first ever Women’s Super League derby match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on September.
Dominant US get the job done to win 4th World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
July 7 – Rarely has one team at a major international tournament been so far ahead of the opposition in terms of skill, tactics and game management.
Abou-Rida quits Egyptian FA presidency after home loss at AFCON 2019
July 7 – The president of the Egyptian Football Association Hani Abou-Rida has resigned after the host nation suffered a shock defeat in the last-16 of the African Cup of Nations.
Infantino and Macron booed at France 2019 final as fans and players demand equality
July 7 – Gianni Infantino’s attempt to gain the moral high ground by drawing on the success of the women’s World Cup backfired somewhat on Sunday when he was booed ahead of the World Cup final between the United States and Netherlands.
Brazil beat Peru in the Maracana to win Copa America
By Samindra Kunti in Rio de Janeiro
July 7 – Brazil won the Copa America for a ninth time on Sunday, defeating Peru 3-1 in the final to retain the championship on all five occasions they have staged it. Everton Cebolinha, Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison were on the mark for the hosts.
Budweiser keep their eye on the US women with first NWSL deal
July 7 – With the Women’s World Cup ending in France with a win for the US, Budweiser has announced it is extending its women’s football sponsorship in a multi-year partnership with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the nine-team professional women’s league in the US.